Workplace violence and harassment, “is a concern when working with students in general, and particularly for educational assistants and teachers who work with special needs students.”(Education sub-sector, Industrial Sector Plan 2012-2013, Ministry of Labour)

Overall, it may be time for boards to undertake development of a strategic plan for student success that integrates academic achievement along with student health, safety and well-being” (CODE 2014)

Ensuring health and safety in schools is an essential part of any supervisory officer’s responsibilities.Council of Ontario Directors of Education

If it’s difficult to report a health and safety concern, get help from your steward or your ETFO local.

A strong safety culture is dependent upon demonstrating a commitment to safety by the senior management of an organization.Council of Ontario Directors of Education

A safer, healthier workplace means you can be at your professional best without the stress of illness or injury.

To help ensure that students have acceptable, suitable environments to learn in, the Ministry of Education should develop an ongoing process to identify and address urgent capital renewal needs before schools become prohibitive to repair.School Renewal and Maintenance, 2010 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario

Accidents, deaths, and injuries have far reaching effects on students, educators, families and communities. The fact is they are preventable, and everyone has a role to play in that prevention.Sam Hammond, ETFO President

The work to prevent student injuries and to ensure student health and safety is by no means complete (CODE 2014)

This awareness training will lay the foundation for building a strong occupational health and safety culture in the province of Ontario.George Gritziotis, Chief Prevention Officer, Province of Ontario

Ensuring that our school communities are safer and healthier places to learn and to work is an important part of supporting student achievement and educator excellence.

Workplace complaints to the ministry about exposures to chemicals and a lack of proper ventilation are often associated with larger-scale maintenance activities or renovations.(Education sub-sector, Industrial Sector Plan 2012-2013, Ministry of Labour)

The Health and Safety Bulletin Board

To protect workers’ rights, and their health and safety in the workplace, employers are required by law to post certain documents. The Health and Safety Bulletin Board is an ideal location for posting these documents. A Ministry of Labour inspector may check the Health and Safety Bulletin Board in your workplace to make sure that the employer has posted the required documents.

Following is a list of documents that you should be able to find on the Health and Safety Bulletin Board in your workplace. It includes links for downloading and further information. The list was adapted from the Ministry of Labour’s website resource, Posting and Training Requirements at:http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/atwork/posting_training.php.

If you believe there may be something missing on the Health and Safety Bulletin Board in your school, let your principal know.

Posters

Health & Safety at Work: Prevention Starts HereEmployers must display this poster in their workplaces. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of workers, supervisors and employers on the job and provides contact information for the Ministry of Labour. Download the poster at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pdf/poster_prevention.pdf

“In Case of Injury” Poster (Form 82)Under a regulation of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), affected employers must display the “In Case of Injury” Poster (Form 82) in their workplaces. To get further information and the poster, cut and paste “In Case of Injury” Poster (Form 82)” in an internet search engine.

Legislation

Occupational Health and Safety ActUnder to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers must display a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in their workplaces. Since a number of OHSA Regulations also apply in our workplaces, the best practice would be to post the OHSA and its Regulations in book form – also known as “The Green Book” – and available for purchase from Service Ontario and publishers such as Carswell. Download the Act at: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90o01_e.htm

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)Under Ontario Regulation 860 – Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) there are three ways in which information on hazardous materials is to be provided:

labels on the containers of hazardous materials;

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to supplement the label with detailed hazard and precautionary information; and

worker education programs.

The employer is required to make copies of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) readily available to workers, and to the joint health and safety committee, or to a health and safety representative. The Material Safety Data Sheets can be posted to the Health and Safety Bulletin Board. In a school setting there may be a number of products with MSDS sheets, for example; fire extinguishers; products for cleaning, maintenance and construction; and products in science labs and tech shops.

Policies and Programs

Health and Safety PolicyThe OHSA requires employers to prepare and review, at least once a year, a written occupational health and safety policy, and to develop and maintain a program to implement that policy. The policy must be posted in the workplace. The Ministry of Labour’s Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act includes Appendix A: How to Prepare an Occupational Health and Safety Policy at:http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/ohsa/ohsag_appx_a.php

Workplace Violence and Harassment Policies and ProgramsThe OHSA also requires employers to prepare and review, at least once a year, workplace violence and workplace harassment policies, and to develop and maintain programs to implement those policies. These policies must be in writing and posted in the workplace except for workplaces with five or fewer regularly employed workers, unless ordered by an inspector. Note that even though these policies are not required in workplaces with five or few workers, putting these documents into active use would benefit everyone in the workplace. The Ministry of Labour’s guideline, Workplace Violence and Harassment: Understanding the Law includes examples of these policies and programs as follows:

JHSC Members and First Aiders

JHSC MembersIn workplaces where the employer is required to establish a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), the employer must also post the names and work locations of the committee members in a conspicuous place. In practical terms if you have a site-based JHSC, those names are posted. If you have a multi-workplace JHSC, those names are posted. If you have health and safety reps in a workplace, their names and roles can also be posted. The Ministry of Labour provides a useful reference, A Guide to Joint Health and Safety Committees and Health and Safety Representatives in the Workplace, accessed at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/jhsc/jhsc_jhsc.php

First AidersEmployers must post the names of designated First Aiders in a conspicuous place. These designated First Aiders are trained during the working day. Both the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act contain regulations relating to first aid. First Aid Requirements (O.Reg. 1101) sets out the employer’s duties for ensuring there are sufficient designated workers trained in First Aid, and there are sufficient First Aid supplies for the size and the nature of the workplace. First Aid Requirements (O.Reg 1101) can be downloaded at:http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_901101_e.htm

Additional Items

As best practice, there are a number of additional items that would typically be posted on the Health and Safety Bulletin Board.

Monthly health and safety inspection reportsThe monthly health and safety inspection reports should be posted. The OHSA requires that the workplace be inspected at least monthly and that this inspection be performed during the working day by the worker health and safety representative, or a worker member of the JHSC. These health and safety inspection reports are provided to the principal for action. Situations that may be a source of danger or hazard to workers must be reported to the principal and the JHSC. Read more about health and safety inspections at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/jhsc/jhsc_jhsc.php

Emergency Contacts and Procedures Emergency Contacts could include for example: 911, Poison Control, Municipality, local police. Emergency Procedures could include for example: fire safety and evacuation routes.

Occupational Health and Safety ReportsAdditional items that may be posted can also include other reports related to Occupational Health and Safety that are of relevance to the workplace, for example, testing results for drinking water and indoor air quality.